Leni Björklund (born July 5, 1944) is a Swedish Social Democratic politician. She is the current Minister for Defence (since 2002).

Leni Björklund grew up in Örebro. She graduated from Uppsala University with a B.A. As a local politician, Björklund was a Commisioner in the 1970s and 1980s, first in Järfälla Municipality north of Stockholm 1977-1979, and later in Stockholm County Council 1980-1989. She went on to work as Managing Director for the Planning and Rationalisation Institute for the Health and Social Services.

When Prime Minister Göran Persson appointed her on October 21, 2002, she was the secretary-general of the Church of Sweden, a position she had held since 1999. Björklund is Sweden's first woman Minister for Defence.

Leni Björklund holds a honorary doctorate degree from the Karolinska Institute, a Stockholm medical university.

External links

Leni Björklund's home page on the Swedish Government web site